Receptacle for dental floss.



's. w.. BVOYNTONKL w. A. LEONARD.

RECEPTACLEFOR DENTAL FLOSS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT a 1915 V Patented Apr. 18,1916.

liven 072s mzzz'amflzeonarcz AZYZMfi OJIZO7Z dz'Was snrii w. norn'roivnivn WILLIAM A. LEONARD, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECEPTACLE FOR DENTAL FLOSS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 191.6.

Application filed September 9, 1915. Serial No. 4,9,815.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, SETH W. BoYNToN and TVILLIAI-i A. Lnoxann, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lm provements in Receptacles for Dental Floss, of which the following is a specification.

Dental floss is commonly put up in balls, and it is highly desirable that the floss be protected from contamination, while permitting short pieces of floss to be removed for use.

The present invention relates particularly to a sanitary receptacle which is adapted for holding the floss for shipping purposes, as well as providing a means for protecting the same as it is being used.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a receptacle of this character which will be sufliciently tight to protect the floss, which may be readily constructed, which will permit the removal of short pieces of floss for use, without disturbing the ball or supply, and which will be neat and attractive in appearance.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved receptacle; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view; Fig. i is a side view of the cap or top; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base with the top removed; and Fig. '6 is a detail taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

As indicated in these drawings, 7 represents a base, which may be made of any suitable material, but is preferably made of sheet metal. This base comprises an annular band 8, which curves outwardly toward the lower edge 9 which is curved inwardly and connects with an upwardly extending inner flange 10 which is formed integrally with the bottom 11. The bottom 11 extends out close to the inner surface of the upper portion of the band 8, in order to support the top or cover 12, which rests thereupon. The top orcover 12 is preferably made of glass, and is provided with an IL-shaped groove 13, which co-acts with a projection 14: on the inner side of the band 8, to form a lock or bayonet joint. The band 8 is provided with a hole 15 in one side thereof, just below the lower edge of the top 12, to form an outlet for the flossor tape 16. The bottom 11 is preferably provided with a groove 17 adjacent to this hole, so as to allow a free passageway for the tape. In order to prevent air or dust from passing through the hole 15 into the receptacle, we provide a cover 18, which is pivoted at 19 adjacent to the hole, and presses against the base sufliciently tight to hold it in position. A tongue 20 is cut out of the side of the band 8, and bent outwardly, and its lower sufficiently loose so that the tape may be drawn through, even though the cover is closed. The top 12 is then inserted in the band 8, and locked in position by the bayonet joint, which makes a substantially air tight receptacle. The user may then draw out any desired length of the floss and bring it into engagement with the knife 20, in order to cut off a piece of the same. On account of the knife being arranged close to the hole 15, only short sections of the floss will remain exposed, and such sections will be grasped by the fingers, and will not come in contact with the teeth.

Having thus described our invention, which, however, may be varied in construction, or parts omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a receptacle for dental floss, the combination of a base having a raised bottom and upwardly extending sides, and having an outlethole for the floss through the side at some distance above the lower surface of the base, with a transparent top, said top and base being provided with means for locking them together the arrangement being such that the floss may be drawn out through the side of the receptacle without disturbing the receptacle.

2. A receptacle for dental floss, comprising a base formed of sheet metal, with a raised bottom, said base having an outlet hole through the side adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom, whereby the floss may be withdrawn without coming in contact with any surface upon which the receptacle may rest a top engaging with said base and adapted to rest on the bottom, and a connection between said base and top.

3. A receptacle for dental floss, comprising a base formed of sheet metal, said base having an upwardly extending flange and a raised bottom, said flange having a hole therethrough, and said bottom having a groove adjacent to the hole, an inverted glass top engaging with said flange and resting on the bot-tom, a locking connection between said flange and top, and a cover for said hole. v

4:. In a receptacle for dental floss, the

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

combination with a base comprising an annular band having its lower edge curved inwardly and connecting with an upwardly extending flange formed integrally with-a raised bottom, said flange having a hole therein adjacent to the upper hole, a pivoted cover for said hole, a knife adjacent to said hole, a glass top adapted to fit closely with in the flange, with its lower edge resting on the bottom, said top having an L-shaped groove therein, and said flange having a projection adapted to engage with said groove to lock the parts together.

SETH W. BOYNTON.

WILLIAM A. LEONARD.

Washington, D. C. 

